Giving Thanks Word Search

About this puzzle

A puzzle about the spirit of Thanksgiving rather than the food: gratitude and blessings; the family, friends and neighbors who gather together; the kindness, generosity and sharing that make a community; the traditions that bring people back each year; and the volunteers who help others. Every word is positive, which makes it a good puzzle to end a lesson or a meal on.

The default layout is Easy on a 11×11 grid. Easy, Medium and Hard each use their own checked layout of the same words, and every one can be printed in standard or large print on US Letter or A4.

Word notes

Gratitude

The feeling of being thankful; the word comes from the Latin gratus, meaning pleasing or thankful.

Generous

Ready to give more of something — time, help or money — than is expected.

Tradition

A custom passed down from one generation to the next; from the Latin for "handing over".

Neighbor

Someone who lives nearby; the Old English word meant "near dweller".

Volunteer

Someone who offers time or help freely, without being paid.

Try this after the puzzle

After the puzzle, each solver writes three sentences beginning "I am grateful for…", using at least one word from the list. A class can make a gratitude wall from paper leaves. At a family table, go round and ask everyone to name one kind thing someone did for them this year.

All 14 words

Gratitude · Family · Friends · Gather · Blessing · Kindness · Share · Grateful · Generous · Tradition · Neighbor · Volunteer · Welcome · Together